Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Germany
Germany: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 108.13 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Germany, 1971–2025
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in Germany is 108.13 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.2% on the previous year and down 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Germany peaked at 214.71 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.20 billion BoP, current US$, in 1971.
That places Germany 5th out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Germany, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1.20 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1972 | 1.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +50.3% |
| 1973 | 1.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.8% |
| 1974 | 2.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.1% |
| 1975 | 2.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 2.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.6% |
| 1977 | 2.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.7% |
| 1978 | 3.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +63.7% |
| 1979 | 5.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.3% |
| 1980 | 4.16 billion BoP, current US$ | -17.0% |
| 1981 | 3.77 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.5% |
| 1982 | 2.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -27.6% |
| 1983 | 2.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.9% |
| 1984 | 4.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +60.6% |
| 1985 | 5.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.3% |
| 1986 | 9.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +71.0% |
| 1987 | 8.26 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.1% |
| 1988 | 11.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +44.8% |
| 1989 | 13.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.5% |
| 1990 | 24.04 billion BoP, current US$ | +80.2% |
| 1991 | 22.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.6% |
| 1992 | 18.60 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.9% |
| 1993 | 17.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.5% |
| 1994 | 18.86 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.7% |
| 1995 | 39.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +107.1% |
| 1996 | 50.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.1% |
| 1997 | 41.80 billion BoP, current US$ | -17.7% |
| 1998 | 88.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +112.5% |
| 1999 | 139.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +56.9% |
| 2000 | 98.17 billion BoP, current US$ | -29.6% |
| 2001 | 70.24 billion BoP, current US$ | -28.5% |
| 2002 | 17.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -75.5% |
| 2003 | 39.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +128.5% |
| 2004 | 9.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -76.9% |
| 2005 | 88.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +880.5% |
| 2006 | 147.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +66.4% |
| 2007 | 140.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.9% |
| 2008 | 98.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.3% |
| 2009 | 99.74 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 146.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +47.0% |
| 2011 | 107.91 billion BoP, current US$ | -26.4% |
| 2012 | 99.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 93.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2014 | 105.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2015 | 119.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2016 | 116.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 148.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.8% |
| 2018 | 212.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.9% |
| 2019 | 171.34 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.5% |
| 2020 | 144.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.5% |
| 2021 | 214.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +48.2% |
| 2022 | 160.26 billion BoP, current US$ | -25.4% |
| 2023 | 116.19 billion BoP, current US$ | -27.5% |
| 2024 | 87.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -25.1% |
| 2025 | 108.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.2% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 108.13 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.18 billion BoP, current US$, 91.9× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Germany's 108.13 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 910.20 million BoP, current US$, 118.8× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +880.5% | 9.07 billion BoP, current US$ | 88.93 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.58 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.02 billion BoP, current US$ | 9 |
| 1980s | 6.68 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.73 billion BoP, current US$ | 13.34 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 46.15 billion BoP, current US$ | 17.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 139.40 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.93 billion BoP, current US$ | 9.07 billion BoP, current US$ | 147.97 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 132.15 billion BoP, current US$ | 93.29 billion BoP, current US$ | 212.93 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 138.53 billion BoP, current US$ | 87.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 214.71 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 2 Japan 217.76 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 3 China 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 4 Luxembourg 108.60 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 6 Singapore 94.20 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 7 United Kingdom 86.93 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 8 Hong Kong 80.54 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Germany
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.7761 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.6565 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 108.13 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0214 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,295 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 95.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 51.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0188 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,140 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 51.4 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Germany?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Germany was 108.13 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 214.71 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.20 billion BoP, current US$ in 1971.
- How does Germany rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Germany ranks 5th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in an economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. This series shows net outflows of investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world. Data are in current U.S. dollars.